Five things we learned from Cardiff (home)

Reece Burke

Paul Kendrick

Published:20:23Sunday 23 April 2017

1 It’s over. Okay, so it might not be mathematically over, but it’s over.

The fat lady has not only sung, she’s done three encores. Nothing less than a win against a Cardiff side that has been ‘on the beach’ for a few weeks was good enough. Yet again Latics failed to take advantage of limited opposition offering little or no threat. The story of the season.

2 Nick Powell is human after all. The ex-Manchester United man came off the bench for his now-customary 30-minute cameo, but was unable to find the net - as he had five times in the last three outings. Latics looked far more likely to score with Powell on the pitch, but the cutting edge in the final third failed to materialise - not for the first time this term.

3 Reece Burke has been a massive miss during his injury lay-off. The on-loan West Ham defender made a very welcome return after four-and-a-half months on the sidelines with a hip problem, and was arguably Wigan’s best player as he not only kept it tight at the back, but also ventured forward with a real threat. It’s impossible to wonder what might have been had been been fit for the whole campaign.

4 Matt Gilks was a welcome sight between the posts for Latics. After being left out for the last three games due to the now-infamous clause in Jakob Haugaard’s contract, Gilks was back in after the big Dane returned to Stoke on the eve of the game with a shoulder problem. Okay, he had little to do - but he restored calmness to the backline - and the fans.

5 Neil Warnock could cause an argument in an empty room. During the post-match press conference, the Cardiff boss claimed Wigan had ‘looked like they were down already’, and reckoned the home crowd were ‘resigned’ to their fate. An unnecessary kick in the guts from a man who has been relegated before - and should appreciate the pain that goes with that.